The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-01
THE SOUTH AS 1T is.
THE CONSTITUTIONS Correspond
ents Begin Their Tour
0FTHE SOUTH, WITH ALABAMA FIRST.

sbalne place tnat ten years ptIore Seeleu 81 uI4-
progressive.
And when you step inside the old statehouse,
end look through the volumes there that mark
the progress Of Alabama from year to year, it
Is still more difficult to comprehend that peo-
pie who, from time immemorial, have been
blessed with princely inheritage, should have
allowed it to remain neglected and almost
wasted for so many years.
The Alabama of today, in all its physical
resources, is the same as the Alabama OF twen-
ty years ago, and yet the state, by reason OF
development has so far outgrown the size and
lineaments Of its youth as to be almost UNI
recognizable.
"You Goorgians, said prominent official,
siproudly arrogate 10 your state the name Of
empire state Of the south, and yet, do you
know that the state Of Alabama has contribu-
ted more TO the reputation OF the south abroad,
for the glory of its soil, climate. resources
everything, rather than Georgia? You have
the honor now, but we put you on notice, that
as quickly as public sentiment can be enlight-
ened the glory and all that's in the name viii
be oursl"
There was a kind of prophetic ring in the
lman's tone that l did not Ike but suppose We
lsee if there is anything in what he says
Ten years Ego the value Of taxable prop
fplo were paying rate Of y mills upon that
iamount In other words, the state taX-rate in
Alabama ten years ago was over double what
st is today in Georgia, the value of taxable
property being less than one-half as much
Ten Years is bat a short while
and development must be mar
yellously swift when as short a period
produces the wonderful change Alabama Pre-
SCENTS today. when its taxable property is valued
at S2tJ, 10000. The tax rate today is 81 mills,
or two mills less than IN 1876 this is high
rate, but when its cause IS known it should
stand as mark Of the honesty and integrity Of
this people.
When the democrats legained the state in
1874, they found it burdened with debt some
thing like thirty millions OF dollars. They
went to work to lift that debt. The only way
70 rid tn" state Of il was 10 pay it, or by legal
compromise to ~,duce the yearly interest by
lower interest bearing bonds. Over Z
mills was found necessary to meet the interest
on the public debt, and though the sum was
unusually large the people have each year
lpaid it without murmur by judiCiOus, eco
nomical management IL has been reduced now
10 % mills, and next year Will be only mills.
The thirty million OF bonded debt has been
lowered 10 something over ten millions, an
amount the state can easily carry, as is attes-
ted by the excellent rating its bonds have in
Wall street,
WONDERFUL GROWTH IN COUNTIES.
There are GG counties in Alabama, and
the last returns to the state auditor from these
counties show this remarkable fact every
county in the state, without exception shows
an increase. Jefferson county, in which the
magic city OF Birmingham, with its ever rising
values, is situated, the richest county in the
state shows an increase over last year in value
of taxable property of S26,52l 98OO-one
county in the state, whose annual increase ex-
ceods the sum total of tho aggregate increase
ol the one hundred and thirty-seyen counties
OtGeorgia
Is il possible that the oflocholder will after
NIL have his prophecies confirmed?
Aud not only Jefferson county, but Winston
county, the poorest, so far as values are con-
Ccrned IN the state, shows an increase of over
$4,000 1t is true, that the combined in
crease Of values over last year is only
Sii ,G9i ,iO5.0O Of which jefferson county repre-
scnts over $50, UO,0OO but every county in the
state without exception contributes in some
degree TO the measure OF general prosperity.
What could be better test of the prosperity
OF the people
The state Is essentially an agricultural COM
mlmty. In the years TO come il may be Just
rs truly manufacturing people. But upon
the prosperity OF the farming class depends,
after all, the real prosperity OF the state. Al
ALBANIA retains more plantations today than
any other southern state, perhaps The owners
of land have not divided mp their inheritance,
selling piece here and "a piece there, but rs u
the war mRrl, the limit OF possession now. In
only rare instances are the owners able TO farm
their plantations. To properly run q place of
two or three thousand acres requires consid-
jerablc money and that commodity is scarce
with the planters. What do they do?
Three systems arc employed, Wages, Shares
BcntnR. The first is good enough but its praC-
itice depends upon tie possession of money and
rhat system is not IN general vogue here. The
1ast two are the usual methods by which the
II * a hot,
'tho two is hard to tell, both are bad
enough, for both give 10 the negro absolute
control over the cultivation OF the crop. If he
gives the land owner part of the crop for the
Hand, that part viii depend entirely upon the
energy "th which the negro works The
owner has TO advance him provisions The
end of the year comes and the Negroes part is
gust aboat enough to pay for the advances re-
iCoivcd. 1t Is a never ending struggle be
tween life and death between suiiiCioncy and
hunger on the part of the cropper and an the
while The land is steadily going down
Tins is equally true of the rent system the
renter never looking toward improvements
but always striving Tor immediate
gain With such svstclu in vogue with cotton
the main crop, and that crop for the last three
years almost failure. the condition OF the Ala-
hama farmer is moi as bright ns it ought 10 bee.
Aud yet hc rs no worse Oh ulon his brethren Of
other states.
lie may he said 90 have the advantage iu
some respects. Tho cost ot guauo, that is So
essential 20 The Georgia cotton planter, does
not enter into the expense account Of the
farmer here. The rich, BLACK soil of the prairie
land viii produce Improperly worked and with
good seasons, a bale TO the acre; and even
with uniayOr,ble adjWcts 10 rarely falls below
half bale.
In some Of the sandy counties Of tho state.
away from the black bolt, fertilizers are used.
and Il mill that is IN operation here In Mont
gOmeTy, has about al il can DO IN supplying
The demand, The use of fertilizers Is not gem
olal in the state, and there is no reason why
the farmers should not % we'll II obey intel
ligently work their land, And there are somo
who are doing Well They know their bust
ness, and each year they add 10 their wealth
\ STOCK RAISING ~ ALABAMA.
No better section exists anywhere for stock
raising purposes than in some parts of Ala
hama. A large number OF agricultur.Sts are
now IN the business, aud You can tell their
YARNS the Very instant You strike them by the
M OF prosperity and general good appearance
"a hioout Cherokee Dale, Coosa Henry
Limestone. Madison Marion, and Talledoca
bt"oN raising has become regular industry
n better and iaircr land for the purpose
t"nld not DE found. II tulhus The sSrip-
shuN NtNphcsy OF cattle ON thousand
ihlh. wan the stool, rusiug There naturally
e"y, hand ll hand thp cultivation of imrfny,j
H"@ts The people hate entered into ,his
cuisines, with energy aud inte'Nrtpf ,y,,l
IH.... ... . ...a Ns.